NASSAU, The Bahamas (Interstat) — In a back-and-forth battle at Imperial Arena on Friday, the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers outlasted the Wichita State Shockers 75 to 70 in a men’s NCAA Division I basketball game.

The contest, part of a multi-team event in The Bahamas, saw the Hilltoppers improve their season record to 5-2, while the Shockers fell to an even 4-4.

Western Kentucky established a narrow four-point lead by halftime, heading into the locker room with a 33 to 29 advantage. The second half proved to be a higher-scoring affair, with both teams trading runs. Wichita State’s offense found more rhythm after the break, scoring 41 points, but Western Kentucky matched that intensity with 42 points of its own to secure the five-point victory.

The game was ultimately decided by efficiency and ball security. Western Kentucky posted an offensive rating of 110.4, scoring 75 points on 68 possessions. Wichita State, meanwhile, managed an offensive rating of 103.9 with 70 points from 67 possessions. The Hilltoppers also capitalized on their opponents’ mistakes, scoring off turnovers and committing two fewer themselves, seven compared to Wichita State’s nine.

Western Kentucky’s offense was fueled by a stellar performance from guard Armelo Boone. The Lexington, Kentucky, native played 35 minutes and poured in a game-high 22 points, dishing out three assists and recording a block. He was instrumental in the Hilltoppers’ attack, creating shots for himself and others.

He was complemented by strong outings from Teagan Moore and Grant Newell, who each scored 18 points. Moore, from Dry Ridge, Kentucky, added two assists and was a force on the offensive glass, while Newell, a forward from Chicago, provided a consistent scoring threat throughout the contest. LJ Hackman also chipped in nine valuable points for the Hilltoppers.

For Wichita State, guard Kenyon Giles led the charge. The Chesapeake, Virginia, product logged 38 minutes and scored 18 points to go along with two assists. Karon Boyd, a forward from Concord, North Carolina, was also a key contributor, finishing with 15 points. Off the bench, Brian Amuneke provided a significant spark, scoring all 11 of his points in the first half to keep the Shockers within striking distance.

Defensively, Wichita State’s rim protection was notable, with Emmanuel Okorafor of Abia, Nigeria, blocking two shots and altering several others. However, Western Kentucky’s defense was more disruptive on the perimeter, finishing with six steals compared to Wichita State’s three.

From the field, the shooting percentages were nearly identical, with Western Kentucky edging Wichita State by making 25 of 59 attempts against 21 of 57. Both teams connected on seven three-pointers. The difference came in the discipline of the offenses; Western Kentucky tallied six assists against its seven turnovers, while Wichita State managed only three assists against nine turnovers.

The game was played before a sparse crowd of 1,061 at the neutral-site Imperial Arena. The loss marks Wichita State’s second in a row during its trip to The Bahamas, following a defeat to Colorado State on Thursday. Western Kentucky, conversely, bounced back from an overtime loss to South Florida the previous day.

According to Interstat’s ELO system, Wichita State had entered the game as a significant favorite with a 70.30 percent probability to win, making the Hilltoppers’ victory an upset.

Wichita State will look to return to the win column on Tuesday when it hosts Mt. Marty. Western Kentucky’s next matchup is on Saturday, December 6, at home against Evansville.